The App was launched pre Christmas – with a view to getting a few copies of the App out there as stocking fillers. Which worked well.
Now that the holidays are over and the Winter is in full swing, it is time to get those ski legs working, and to see if it is possible to simply improve your skiing.
One of the reasons that we decided to launch an Phone App was in order to gather together some, what are at times quite simple but fundamental ideas about how to ski, and present them to you with the use of Video.
What makes this even more convenient is that now with the advent of smart phones just about everyone has a mini HD video player right there in their pocket.
The How To Ski App has all the videos downloaded on to your phone, so there is no need to have an internet connection, or feel that you are risking using up data connection charges.
All the Videos are there on your phone and ready to watch.
You can watch them at home, in the chalet, on the chairlift or in your favorite restaurant.
Something For Every Skier
Since our initial launch, we have have some great feedback about the clarity of the presented information.
We have also been asked for the possibility of some preview videos, for those that might be a little more hesitant about what they are buying.
So we have released the Overview videos, to let you see what you will be learning.
We have divided up in to four areas which you can choose to work on as you prefer.
How To Ski is the first in a new series of Apps designed to give the everyday recreational skier a simple, accessible and value for money way to improve their skiing.
The How To Ski app offers viewers 12 simple and easy to understand videos answering the question, ‘how do I ski better?’
Tackling the most common problems, and some of the most commonly asked questions, this new app has been designed and created by two ski instructors at the top of their game, Colin Tanner and Giles Lewis.
What Ever Level of Skier You Are This App Will Help You Ski Better
Colin Tanner comments, “I’ve skied back to back winters for many years, in France and New Zealand, and together with Giles’ experience we came up with the most important and universally helpful ski improvement techniques for this app. Whatever level of skier you are, there will be a tip to help.”
Four sections, Stronger and Easier Parallels, Cleaner Carving, Steeper and Narrowerand Improve your Bumps with an overview and three videos within each section make up this first How To Ski app. The videos can be watched on their own or in conjunction with others, there is no start/finish point.
Stronger and Easier Parallels, Cleaner Carving, Steeper and Narrower and Improve your Bumps
Designed to be watched in the restaurant, on the slopes or in the lifts, the information and footage on the app offers a short, simple and effective focus to implement when on snow, a pocket instructor!
The How To Ski video lessons have been professionally filmed and edited using visually exciting and stimulating images with crisp and clear audio.
Our many years of experience working with recreational skiers has allowed us to carefully select the content for this app. The four main sections reflect areas of ski technique that often frustrate keen skiers and frequently require development in our clients.
Overview
Each Section has an overview, this has two functions, firstly it allows you to see how the three lessons fit into the wider context of the section heading. Secondly it allows you to briefly preview the lessons and then select the most appropriate to your needs.
Video lessons
Each lesson is designed to be watched at home, on the slopes, in the restaurant, on the lift. The information and footage gives you a simple, effective focus to implement into your skiing. Your confidence and technique will improve as you revisit the lesson as many times as you choose. Keep your own private instructor in your pocket and progress at your own pace.
Frontier is launching a fantastic new Ski Instructor Course at the world famous Tignes resort in the French Alps. Today we speak to James Stewart-Hunter, an instructor at the resort, who tells us all about this amazing opportunity and why Tignes is the place to be to learn your trade as an instructor.
Into The Wild: Why should people learn to become a ski instructor rather than work in hospitality or on a ski lift for a season?
James: Working as a ski instructor has many benefits over any other job. You get to experience the mountain in all conditions, whether it is beautiful sunny weather or bucketing down with snow it is always different. You get to meet loads of new people and help them become better skiers and often tackle major obstacles with them. This can be massively rewarding and huge amounts of fun at the same time. Life is fast and ever changing as a ski instructor.
Into The Wild: What’s the best thing about doing a ski season?
James: The best thing about doing a ski season firstly is the snow and 6 months of skiing! Secondly, it is being surrounded by like-minded people who have all come together for a love of skiing. Whether they are on holiday or working for the season everyone has the same thing in common and that is a really unique experience.
Into The Wild: What made you want to become a ski instructor?
James: Mainly for my love of skiing but also because I love working in the outdoors with people.
Into The Wild: Where did you gain your qualifications and what did the training involve?
James: I gained my qualifications in a variety of places, Tignes, Zermatt, La Grave, Alpes D’huez. The training involved hard work, determination and the desire to really improve my skiing. The rest was great fun and a time in which I have made friends for life.
Into The Wild: What advice would you give anyone thinking of becoming a ski instructor?
James: Do it! It was the best decision I have ever made and I only wish I had chosen to do it earlier!!!
Into The Wild: How can gaining a ski instructor qualification benefit you even if you don’t plan to practice as an instructor full time?
James: Doing any level of ski instructor qualification gives you such an understanding of the fundamentals that make up good effective skiing that it will improve your own skiing more than simply doing any old course. It will enable you to impart your knowledge better to others, which can help outside the skiing arena. It will give you a better understanding of others’ needs.
Into The Wild: What would your alternative career choice have been?
James: I had planned to join the army but if I went back now I would still choose to become a ski instructor.
Into The Wild: What’s the best thing Frontier’s Tignes project has to offer?
James: The fact that it is in Tignes, one of the best ski areas in the world, has got to be high up there on the list. But I would say that it is the best value for money course on the market where everything is included, offering the highest quality out there.
Into The Wild: How long does the instructors course last?
James: 10 weeks.
Into The Wild: You’ve worked seasons in Val’d’Isère, Nendaz, and Zermatt, what sets Tignes apart from these other resorts?
James: It is a really friendly and relaxed environment, where everybody is a keen skier. The terrain is second to none and it has some of the most reliable snow records in Europe. There is great nightlife and hardly any travelling to do in town…it is all right there.
Into The Wild: What’s the weather like in Tignes?
James: The weather is usually big storms (bringing snow) followed by crystal clear cold days to perfect those goggle tans!
Into The Wild: Are there any towns or cities nearby to explore in your free-time?
James: The nearest towns are Val d’Isere which you can ski over to in about 20 minutes. There are also other ski resorts down the valley, the likes of Les Arc, La Plange, St Foy. The town at the bottom of the Valley is called Bourg St Maurice.
Into The Wild: Where do you dream of skiing next?
James: Anywhere that I can be dropped off by a helicopter and then ski bottomless powder snow all the way to the bottom!
Into The Wild: Finally we love to find out what’s on people’s bucket list. Tell us your top 3.
James:
1. Raft down the Grand Canyon
2. Run a Marathon
3. To see the next ice age where the glaciers stop retreating and in fact grow (unlikely but you have to dream!)
TDC Ski Talk at London Westfield shopping centre, Shepherds Bush this weekend.
Fancy coming to say hello?
Come join us…
• Friday, 12pm – Paul Garner – Ski Coach and BASI trainer from The Development Centre (TDC) Ski School – to talk about learning to ski and how to progress
• Saturday, 3.30pm – Steve Angus – Ski Coach from The Development Centre (TDC) Ski School – to talk about learning to ski and how to progress
After a slow start that had many of us very nervous about the up and coming European ski season. The snow dances and prayers have been answered and the snow is falling in abundance.
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow…
Keep in touch with us and we will keep you updated in the latest conditions, in Val d’Isere, Tignes and Meribel.
TDC are proud to annouce that for the 2011/12 season there are going to be a few new faces in the TDC Jacket….
Jamie – Meribel, Joe – Val d’Isere and Sarah, Rorie, Mark and Rab – Tignes
Jamie Deamer – Meribel
Jamie Deamer – TDC Meribel
Jamie’s passion for winter sports started at an early age playing ice hockey for his home town team Chelmsford at every level from juniors through to the first team who played their matches in English league division one.
It wasn’t until he was 13 that he first put skis on and he quickly caught the bug. He was a regular visitor to the Alps whilst working as a printer around London in the 1990’s.
A career change was needed to further his passion and in 2001 he set off on a ski trip that saw him work his way around the world via Canada and New Zealand ending up in the Aosta valley in Italy where he met his wife Lucy.
Twelve winter seasons later and Jamie is now a BASI level 4 instructor with full French
equivalence. He spends his summers working at golf courses in the UK as a greenkeeper
struggling to lower his handicap !
This coming winter will be Jamie’s 6th in the 3 valleys and his first with the
all new TDC Meribel.
Joe Harkess – Val d’Isere
Joe Harkness – TDC Val d’Isere
TDC are proud to welcome Joe on to the TDC Val d’Isere team.
Growing up in the south of Germany, Joe has been skiing since the age of 6. Driving to the Alps on a Friday after school to squeeze in a weekends skiing was the norm.
It wasn’t until the age of 16, being back in the UK and reduced to one or two weeks a season, Joe realized how much he loved and missed those quick ski trips. Since then a gap year has turned into a lifestyle and career, spending winters in the Alps and summers in the southern hemisphere or the glaciers and snowdomes of Europe.
Competing in Freeride, Freestyle and Giant Slalom events Joe has built up a strong platform and adaptability discovering how the very different disciplines compliment each other and create a well-rounded skier. After spending the past 6 years based in Austria while training towards his qualifications, Joe joins the team as a BASI ISTD with French equivalence and Freestyle coach.
Sarah Musson – Tignes
Sarah Musson – TDC Tignes
Sarah started skiing at the age of 15 on a School ski trip. By her second holiday she knew skiing had changed her life forever and her goal was to train to be a ski instructor.
At the age of 18 she moved to Tignes and with a brief year out in Verbier and has been in what she calls home for the last 10 years.
She has the highest BASI Level 4, with French Equivalence and with 10 years under her belt in Tignes knows the resort like the back of her hand. Whether performance skiing, bumps, gates or deep powder she is no happier than when she has skis on her feet.
In the summer Sarah runs a lakeside Hotel and Restaurant in Tignes waiting patiently for the snow to arrive and kick start the new winter season.
Having taught in Tignes for 7 years before, 2012 is Sarah’s first year for TDC. The rest of the team have long been wondering whether the Escape Killy is big enough to contain her excitement and enthusiasm for ski teaching.
We look forward to finding out…
Rorie Scott – Tignes
Rorie Scott – TDC Tignes
It was 10 years ago Rorie handed his notice in to his boss at a reputable firm of financial advisers with the dream of becoming a ski instructor in Tignes. With his career pathway written by a friend on a scrap of paper, Rorie attained his goal four years later.
Joining TDC this year, Rorie is delighted to be providing to such high quality and can’t wait to see you on the slopes.
Rorie holds the prestigious BASI ISTD with full equivalence, Canadian ISIA and is a level 2 race coach.
Mark Lees – Tignes
Mark Lees – TDC Tignes
2011/12 is Mark’s first winter with TDC and he can not wait to ski and coach in the Espace Killy. His passion for skiing started on a 80m plastic slope and gave growth to a 11 year career in ski teaching. This passion and drive for great skiing is something that Mark delivers to his clients with every lesson.
Mark´s time in the mountains has spanned the globe from the Alps, the US and Chile. A fully qualified British BASI Level 4 instructor. He has spent his career working with children, adults, instructors and elite athletes. From teaching under 9yr ski school groups to coaching the British mens senior ski team for 5 years on the European and world cup circuits.
Mark is also a experienced personal trainer and delivers fitness training in his home city of Glasgow and online. He is currently studying a degree in Sport Science, Physiology and sport nutrition at Glasgow University and and is very much looking forward to joining the TDC team this season.
Rab Bickerdike – Tignes
Rab Bickerdike – TDC Tignes
Rab has been skiing since he can remember and was brought up on the “character building” slopes of Scotland. He was told he started with plastic skis and welly boots in Aviemore. So it was only obvious that he’d run away to the Alps as soon as he could.
Since 1999 he’s been doing seasons in Pila, Chamonix, Les Gets, Verbier, was based in Aosta, Italy, and now Tignes for it’s “good vibe and massive off piste possibilities”.
After 12 seasons of teaching and coaching experience under his belt, Rab still loves to pass on his love and knowledge of the sport, whilst respecting and enjoying the mountain as much and as often as possible.
Rab very honestly admits to his park and pipe background, and at any given chance will be upside down or back to front. He is just as happy on the piste or off piste on skis or even one of those snowboard thingies.
In summer Rab is happiest on his Downhill Mountain bike. Racing and coaching his local Italian team, and is currently sponsored by G.T. bikes.
He also finds writing about himself in the third person very difficult and Steve Peat is the man!?
We are now operating in Meribel and the 3 valleys. Jamie Deamer will be running the Meribel set up and he is already taking bookings for next season. Please get in touch via email at [email protected] for any enquireries.
Yesterday saw a freak snow storm hit the Tarentaise valley, almost half a metre fell in Val, whilst even down in the valley there was widespread chaos as trees laden with fresh wet snow came down onto power cables. It was pretty strange going sledging with my son on 1st June when the last time we’d had enough to sledge was Christmas! It hasn’t snowed properly in the valley for about 4 months and now it decides to come down thick and fast and ruin our tomatoes and geraniums!
Here today gone tomorrow. The summer snow was short lived. The sun was back out today, the sledge got put back in the shed and it was time to get back on the bike…what a strange old world!
